Kejriwal hits out at L-G Jung, Modi government in Delhi Assembly

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung accusing him of working for the NDA government at the Centre and sabotaging the AAP government in Delhi.

Speaking in the Assembly on the second day of two-day special session, Kejriwal said L-G Jung is dancing to Centre's tune. "Had LG acted in the same manner if Kiran Bedi would have been the CM?" Kejriwal asked.

The AAP government has put an end to transfer-posting industry in Delhi, he said and added, " There is a conspiracy by the Centre to destabilise the Delhi government."

"We need the right to choose our officers, make our own team as people of Delhi will demand answer from us and not from L-G. L-G has been working to defame us," the Delhi CM said.

Kejriwal also questioned as to why Delhi L-G was not removed when all the governors were shuffled by the Modi government when it came to power.

"This is a political issue not a constitutional one. It's Modi government's vendetta against us," Kejriwal said.

Earlier, the Delhi government accepted four amendments by three MLAs on a Private Member's Resolution moved by MLA Somnath Bharti in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.

Following incorporation of these four amendments, the government gave its consent for this resolution to be adopted as a sense of the House resolution in the Assembly.

Meanwhile, sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) have revealed that it is likely to move Supreme Court over Delhi High Court's order on jurisdiction of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).

Notably, MHA was not party to the case but legal opinion suggests it has a right to appeal since high court judge has dealt with MHA notification vis a vis L-G's power.

The home ministry issued its gazette notification on May 21 that the ACB police station shall not take cognizance of offences against officials, employees and functionaries of the central government services besides giving the Delhi L-G absolute powers on transfers and postings of senior officers.

The Delhi High Court had on May 25 termed as "suspect" the Centre's notification barring Delhi government's ACB from acting against its officers in criminal offences and held that the Lt Governor cannot act on his discretion.

More drama was witnessed on the second day of special two-day Assembly session as AAP MLA from Ritala Mahendra Goyal tore a copy of MHA notification during discussion on resolution tabled by Delhi government to discuss the Centre's notification on L-G's powers. BJP MLAs staged a walkout from the house in protest.